PORT ANGELES — Up large in the early going, Peninsula College held back Shoreline’s second-half comeback attempt in a 67-61 triumph to seal the NWAC North Region women’s basketball championship in the Pirates’ home finale Wednesday.
Peninsula (13-1, 22-3) finished ahead of Whatcom (11-3, 18-4) in the North standings and earned a No. 1 seed to the NWAC Basketball Championships sweet 16 set for March 19-20 at Everett Community College. The Pirates will find out their first-round opponent and when they will face off during Sunday’s NWAC selection show at 3 p.m. at www.nwacsportsnetwork.com.
In Wednesday’s win, Peninsula rode the hot hand of Sequim’s Hope Glasser to a 21-6 lead after the opening quarter. Glasser had eight points, five rebounds and two steals in the early going.
Port Angeles’ Madison Cooke put up six in the second as the Pirates continued to grow their lead.
Peninsula women’s coach Alison Crumb said she was shocked by how much the Pirates got up early (at one point, Peninsula was up 29-8 in the second quarter), but that it turned into a dogfight down the stretch due to turnovers and missed shots.
The Pirates turned it over seven times in the third and connected on just 3 of 12 shots to give the Dolphins extra opportunities and trim a 37-18 halftime advantage all the way down to a 44-41 deficit after three quarters.
Shoreline stuck around for much of the final frame, but post Ituau Tuisaula and Keeli-Jade Smith were key in the fourth quarter as Peninsula came close, but never relinquished the lead.
Peninsula did lose standout Millie Long late in the game to an ankle injury. Long had to be carried off by assistant coach Mike Knowles, but was walking around the gym with no crutches during the men’s game.
“I’m so proud of them. I’m thankful for them. I’m glad it’s not our last game,” Crumb said of the team’s effort. “It was special to see all the hard work come to fruition. I hope it’s special for them.” Crumb was especially proud that the Pirates weathered a storm early in the year in which four players were out with COVID-19.
“We need to work on some things, but I’ll take a win and Region championship,” she said.
Peninsula 67, Shoreline 61
S6 12 23 20 — 61
P21 16 7 23 — 67
Shoreline (61) — Miller 22, Pease 20, Akaka 10, Browning 6, Altaha 2, Ituala 1.
Peninsula (67) — Glasser 13, Tuisaula 13, Smith 11, Cooke 8, Kamae 6, Brown 5, Villafuerte 5, Long 4, Kaganak 2.
Members of the Peninsula College womens basketball team celebrate Wednesday’s 67-61 win over Shoreline to earn them the NWAC North Region championship. Holding the banner was Ariyanna Camacho-Villafuerte. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Hope Glasser heads for the lane past Shoreline’s Gracie Browning on Wednesday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula womens head coach Alison Crumb holds the net after cutting it from the hoop in celebration of Wednesday’s capture of the NWAC North Division title with a win over Shoreline. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Madison Cooke, center, looks for a way around the defense of Shoreline’s Kimberly Perez, left, as Shoreline’s Kyla Miller looks on during Wednesday’s game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Ituau Tuisaula finds herself surrounded by the Shoreline defense during Wednesday’s game in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Adam Kaganak, left, is chased to the lane by Shoreline’s Symone Pease on Wednesday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Millie Long is helped from the court by assistant coach Mike Knowles, left, and head coach Alison Crumb after Long injured her ankle in the closing minutes of Wednesday’s game against Shoreline. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Tatianna Kamae, center, takes aim at the net on Wednesday against Shorline during Wednesday’s regular season finale. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
